Oops!

So already you have fallen by the wayside but you'll be pleased to hear that it was order for me to go boating, take the kids to the movies, spend time with my elderly Grandma, receive visitors, go swimming, drink vodka and generally commence proceedings for the SUMMER OF FUN!
The second week of the school holidays was pretty good. The first wasn't too shabby for that matter but then who can't have a good time in school holidays.
I did get a bit snippy in the middle there but upon reflection I think by that point everyone was very overtired (we had a big long weekend)and we all needed a nap -but of course didn't have one 'cos it's holidays! Also, like a lot of us I tend to express my anger and frustration badly and toward the wrong peeps. That is an exceptionally bad habit to break. For a start you actually have to think before you explode - not my strong suit sadly but one foible at a time. For the moment it is shouting. I am a shouter and I am breeding shouters so I am working on calm & quiet before anything else. Once I have that organised I'll work on controlled explosions.
So now everything is back to normal. School, work, washing, dinners, blah, blah...I have just this afternoon realised how invaluable I am. This is the upside to returning to work after a break. You realise how important you are to your little brood.
I got home a few minutes earlier than usual to find my eldest daughter in her little sisters school shirt with her belly hanging out, this is how she has spent the day at school. My youngest daughter in her older sisters clothes with only 1 shoe on because she can't locate the other and my middle daughter totally organised 'cos that's the kind of kid she is - in fact she has come in, gotten changed and gone out to water her garden and not even said hello yet! She is happy as long as she gets a cuddle every day. The other 2 are feeding their faces in front of the telly -relaxing after a hard day before hitting the yard. In a way they all have their priorities right, fitting the stuff they enjoy into their daily routines. In the long run they'll be fine I guess...if I can just stop shouting and be less frustrated with what I can't control.
Back to the fun...after I've cleaned the kitchen and organised dinner.

The Pool is OPEN!

Today was the Official Pool Opening.
Great reason to have friends over for a bbq & drinks. It also coincided with my youngest daughter's 4th birthday and niece's 18th birthday so a great excuse to have 2 birthday cakes & repeated singing of Happy Birthday.  That always brings a smile.

I enjoy the shopping and menu prep and I even enjoy the last minute clean up and organisation except today it was done with 3 kids who would just not let up!
Mum, we're hungry...
Mum, I've finished (pooing, youngest still needs help)...
Mum, the dog got out...
Mum, I've spilled water on the laptop...
Mum, the dining room is a fucking pigsty AGAIN!
You catch my drift, right? Needless to say I started drinking prior to Beer O'clock and the arrival of my guests and the bruschetta never made it into the bowls. I'm pretty sure the tomatoes are still sitting on the bench actually.
However, I did have a really good time. I had given up on perfection at the precise moment my first guest arrived -great timing!
I find I hold myself to some pretty high standards but generally don't have the same expectations of others. I'm not sure why. I don't think they are less capable I just feel that I have to always do my best or be exceptional for others. It does seem a shame though that my expectations of myself are high in possibly the wrong places. Instead of driving me to be a better wife and mother or home maker they push me to be good at my job or like today, put on a good party. Does that make those things more important to me or do I just realise that I can actually do that stuff well so why not push myself to achieve a little more where I can?
On the flip side when I just threw my hands up, poured a drink and accepted what I'd done was good enough I had fun and didn't give the missed things a second thought.
How and when did I become so highly strung? I guess it must have been a subtle process -I'm pretty sure it didn't happen overnight...but it did happen! Apparently. Now I have to figure out how to reverse it.
More days like today will help I'm sure, lucky for me it's heading for the fun time of the year and I have family & friends happy to enjoy some down time with me.
So tonight I have a big thank you to send out to all the friends who joined in the Pool Opening today (even though we didn't get to swim in it) and to our 10 kids and 3 teens all of whom allowed me to take a step back and enjoy myself - imperfections and all...when I reflect on the day the only thing that really could have been better was the weather and even I can't control that!